Customer Reviews

Salem Falls

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(60)
3 star:		(39)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I have read every one of Picoult's books and am sad to find that the quality has lessened with every book. In fact, I think "The Pact" was the last semi-plausible and well-written book that she wrote.

This newest book was so full of inconsistencies, errors in procedure (police and courtroom),and sloppiness. There were too many different issues covered and consequently none of them was done well. Picoult needs better editing and much better advice on the legal issues, and she needs to stop churning out books at such a furious pace and be more careful. Readers are not stupid--we know when something can or cannot happen. I, for one, do not like to have a writer make something up so as to manipulate the story. For example--the crime scene was not cordoned off until the next morning. As if that would ever happen, no matter how small the town. But it was written this way to facilitate the direction in which the author wanted the story to go. Shouldn't the action determine the story, not the other way around?

The characters in this book lacked any depth and were like cardboard cutouts. I did not care about one of them with the possible exception of Addie.

It seems as though Picoult is only concerned with the final product, not how the story is put together. I see a novel as a tightly woven tapestry, a blending of many elements into a wonderful entity. In this book, I see disarray and holes in the fabric of the story.

I must confess that when I ordered this book, I was anxious to read it and put Harry Potter Vol. #4 aside so I can read it. I love Jodie Picoult's writing, and was eagerly anticipating more of the same with this book. I found to my disappointment that it wasn't as riveting as The Pact or as enthralling as Keeping Faith. I am disappointed ~~ while the writing is always lyrical and riveting, the story holds no surprises for me.

Jack St. Bride is accused of raping a girl in Salem Falls ~~ and Jordan MacAffee is his attorney again. Addie, the woman who falls in love with Jack, also undergo a personal revelation as well in this multi-faceted novel. There is a group of teenage girls who practice Wicca ~~ which is interesting. And there's the showdown, which Picoult is known for ~~ but if you're looking for a great Picoult book, I highly recommend The Pact because the courtroom scene there is wonderful! It is suspenseful and breath-stopping. But in this book, it's lackluster and disappointing.

Please don't hesitate to read this book ~~ it is still a good read. It just isn't up to par to her other books ~~ and it could be the subject is familiar to me. What teenage girl doesn't fanastize about her favorite male teacher? And what woman doesn't shudder at the idea of being raped? Or being accused falsely of a crime one didn't commit? And reading about some of Jack's past helps give him a human face in the book ~~ it just didn't explore his personality like I hoped it would. It's almost as if Picoult is trying to write about rape, sex and its effect on women ~~ but something's missing there as it leaves me with more questions than revelations. This is a powerful subject but it misses the mark somewhere.

It is still a wonderful book ~~ just don't get your hopes up too much like I did. It just isn't my favorite Picoult book.

I have to preface this by saying that I have read all of Jodi Picoult's books, and always wait anxiously for her next to arrive. She is an incredible writer, who always has compelling and interesting plots and characters, but Salem Falls was not up to her usual standards.

It starts with a bang -- a brilliant Ph.D who landed himself in prison with false charges of statatory rape gets out and settles in Salem Falls, a quaint, nothing ever happens, type of North East coast town. I was immediately drawn to his character as well as that of the woman who "takes him in," Addie. She is a woman tied to the past, and psychologically impacted by it -- afraid that those she loves will leave her, and unwilling to accept that those she has lost are truly gone. It takes her many years, for example, to accept that her daughter has passed away.

Aside from these two likeable characters and some less visible ones, the main characters are four teenagers. One of whom accuses Jack of rape, puts him on trial, and has the whole town defending her. And this is where the book lost its draw for me. The punch of a start fizzled out half way through as I began to piece together everything I knew would happen next, and it did. The ending might have been a surprise, had I not guessed it at the very beginning. And had I not been drawn to Jack, longing for him to earn the respect he deserves, I might have given up.

I suppose if I had never read Picoult, this one might have appealed to me. But my expectations were so high that this was a let down. All of her other books are incredible, this one, mediocre in my opinion. But I would still recommend it, just not before any of her other jewels.

SALEM FALLS by Jodi Picoult

Jodi Picoult does it again with SALEM FALLS, a story about a man who is falsely accused of rape. Jack St. Bride was a teacher and soccer coach at a small town high school, when he is accused of rape and is sentenced to 8 months in prison. When he is released, he finds his way to another small town, Salem Falls, to start a new life, hoping that anonymity will give him the peace he is looking for.

The wheels of fate start turning when he has to report in to the local police department and let them know he is a sex-offender. In this small town, gossip spreads fast, and soon the entire town learns who Jack really is. Only two people feel that he is innocent of the crime he was accused of back home: Addie Peabody, who owns the "Do-or-Diner" and her father, Roy Peabody. Both of them are dealing with losses that have greatly affected their current life, and in some way they can relate to Jack as he struggles to escape from his past.

At the heart of this story is the theme of "the witch hunt", as the towns people watch Jack closely with condemning eyes as they wait for him to make his first mistake. He is then accused of yet another rape, this time accused by the only daughter of the richest man in Salem Falls. Jodi Picoult keeps the reader guessing, as even the reader isn't sure whether Jack is guilty or not. As with KEEPING FAITH and THE PACT, this book ends in the courtroom, and it is anyone's guess what the final verdict will be.

This is yet another Jodi Picoult book that I enjoyed a lot. Although it took me a while to get into the story, as I had a hard time relating to the teens who practiced witchcraft, it all came together in the end. Highly recommended, I am giving this book five stars.

This is the third Picoult novel I have read and I am hooked! Her books are engrossing and always make one ask hard questions.
The story begins with Jack, a high school teacher, as he is falsely accused of having an affair with a student. On the advice of his lawyer, he plea bargains and does 8 months in jail for the offense. Throughout his incarceration his one ray of light is that he was innocent of the charge and vows to never put himself in a position to be vulnerable to another accusation.
Unfortunately for Jack, he moves to Salem Falls, a town with a history of witchcraft and false accusations, and becomes the target of a teenage femme fatale bent on seducing him.
The past has a way of repeating itself in Salem Falls and soon Jack stands accused of rape again.
The brilliance of Picoult's writing is that one never knows whether to believe in the innocence of the accused character or not (the same theme is present in Plain Truth and The Pact). In fact, the final explanation in this book isn't totally revealed until, literally, the very last paragraph. One which will leave you gasping in disbelief.
An Excellent Read!!!

This book has a little of everything: romance, intrigue, witches and a courtroom battle.

While I liked this book, I did find it to be somewhat predictable. I knew the ending before I reached it but Picoult has a way with telling a story.

I found Jack to be an interesting character, a man with a past he cannot escape. His love interest, Addie, has her own haunting past. They were probably the most developed characters in the book. I found the teenagers to be a little too superficial, they just didn't come across to me as very realistic.

I plan to read more from this author, especially her newer releases. For one of her better stories with a courtroom drama, try reading The Pact. It won't disappoint.

Salem Falls

In true Picoult style, Jodi has written yet another wonderful story combining romance and suspense. This author continues to be one of my favorites.

Jack St. Bride find himself released from prison on a cold and blustery day with inadequate clothing and no place to go. A passing cab driver picks him up and with no clear destination in mind Jack finds himself in the small town of Salem Falls. Luck was on his side that day as he spots a help-wanted sign in a local café and Addy Peabody becomes his rescuing angel. Jack is determined to start a new life never imagining that he could possibly find love and happiness again.

Salem Falls has it's share of secrets, lies and intrigue. Jack soon finds himself accused of a crime he didn't commit all because of the past that continues to haunt him. Mystery and a touch of the occult combine to keep the reader enthralled to the last page.

I was so keen to get started on this new Jodi Picoult, that I actually started reading it in the store before I bought it, so you can imagine my disappointment when I got down to the serious business of reading it! I found the story line predictable, the characters very flat, and overall, the whole novel was pedestrian. The "made for t.v." version of Wicca that was presented in the novel did nothing to improve my view of the story, and generally, I would have expected better from a writer of this calibre.

Honestly, I have spent 434 pages in better company than this book. Picoult is heavy-handed and formulaic in a setting that has been overdone for years now - that of the quirky New England small town. Her slightly mad waitress is stereotypical and uninspiring. Her corrupt police officers make me crave another viewing of Fargo. Her portrayal of teenagers is laughably laced with outdated (even at the time of writing) pop culture references clearly written by someone twice the teens' age (although, being Wiccan and having been a teenager not long ago, I have certainly encountered their like). Further, there are times when she simply does not know when to stop using flowery adjectives to gild the wilted lilies of her characters. Her reference to someone's penis as "the plum-purple weight of him" made me cringe.

The plot itself is a little more interesting. One of the few characters who actually engender some emotion - in this case, positive emotion - Jack St. Bride, is engaging, and one wants to see him through his struggle, which is described in admirable, if implausible detail. Even though his bad luck is literally unimaginable, the situations are painted vividly enough that we want to continue to follow them and learn more. However, the courtroom scenes are unrealistic and weak. Emotions which should be inferred simply from a given plot twist are overwrought with drama and laden with adjectives. The last page is predictable from halfway through.

If I didn't like Jack St. Bride's character so much, I probably wouldn't have finished the book. However, there is enough juiciness and plot development to keep the reader engrossed, and despite the flaws in the writing, I got through it quickly and with some satisfaction. Don't read this if you are expecting great fiction. It is preferable to read this than to turn on a Lifetime special on the same subject - statutory rape, however. The book also appears to offer more information on Wicca than your average "Teen Witch" manual.

I swear, Jodi Picoult is a magic story weaver! I am so impressed with this novel and the fact that it completely surpassed my expectations, especially after reading the stellar Plain Truth. Salem Falls is so juicy and exciting, an intoxicating cocktail of everything I love in a suspensful, page-turning drama. And even though I had a strong hunch about the book's ending, it was no less exhilarating to watch it unfold.

Salem Falls tells the story of Jack St. Bride, a former teacher who, according to him, was wrongly accused of sexual assault against one of his students. After doing his time in jail, Jack heads out to start a new life and stumbles into the peaceful, sleepy town of Salem Falls. But it doesn't take long before his past catches up with him, and Jack finds himself fighting another battle for his life. And at its core is a quartet of girls, best friends who are part of a witches coven -- and one girl in particular who has the power to destroy Jack St. Bride.

A perfect blend of magick, power, desire and betrayal, with an explosive courtroom drama of an ending, Salem Falls will have any reader glued to their seats, feverishly turning pages. I loved this book and look forward to reading the rest of Jodi Picoult's novels.